The Fife Herald has a news article on floodgate ownership this week. Liz Rougvie has done her usual outstanding job of writing a thought provoking article – see P13.

Once again we thank Liz and the team at the Fife Herald for their support in bring this important issue to the notice of the general public.

Update: Article is available online.

The Courier has written up an excellent news article regarding the recent floodgate fixture and fitting issue here in Freuchie – see page 4.

Thankfully the article is now a cautionary tale as the floodgates were returned last night.

Once again we are indebted to Craig at The Courier for showing such support for flooding issues.

Concerned local residents have closed the Greentree Brae floodgate as the level of  Freuchie Burn continues to rise.

Photo: Greentree Brae Bridge floodgate

The Freuchie Burn was running at about 60% when checked around 1:30pm today.

A recent change of ownership of an at risk property in Freuchie has brought up an interesting issue which needed both legal and technical advice: when does a floodgate become a fixture and fitting?

FFAG takes the following stance on this matter:

A floodgate, or indeed any flood protection product, becomes a fixture and fitting when any part has to be permanently fixed to the building structure OR removal of any part would result in damage to the building.

Both our legal counsel and Paul Hendy of the Scottish Flood Forum has indicated this is a grey area of law, but they take a similar stance as to when a floodgate becomes a fixture and fitting.

The floodgate system was custom constructed onsite before being installed on specific door ways, with the guide rails of the system being sealed and screwed onto the door jambs. The fixed guide rails have not been unscrewed and removed, only the floodgate panels that hold back the flood waters have been taken.

It is slightly unbelievable someone, who themselves had been badly flooded, would wilfully remove critical components of the flood protection products to take to a new property where they would be utterly useless. This selfish action has put both this property and the neighbouring property at risk from flooding. Other local residents, with the same floodgate system, found it unbelievable that anyone would take away vital parts of the flood protection, especially when everyone is well aware of how critical they are for the prevention of complete ground floor destruction in a major flood event. 

Needless to say we have advised the new householder to consult with his own solicitor as a top priority. FFAG has also sent an email to the previous owner and Your Move in Cupar, who we believe were the selling agent, stating our position and making a request for the immediate return of the removable parts of the floodgate system.

UPDATE 10TH AUGUST
Confirmed with Your Move that our email had been received and appropriate action has been taken.
Fife Herald contacted FFAG for details and photo opportunity.

UPDATE 11TH AUGUST
SEPA issued Flood Alert.
Met Office issued Yellow then Amber Severe Weather Warning.
The Courier contacted FFAG for details and photo opportunity.
Freuchie Community Council shocked by this story at the regular monthly meeting.
Floodgate parts returned on an evening when flooding is a major concern.

Please feel free to comment with your opinion and thoughts.

The Courier has done another outstanding job of highlighting the flood risk present in Freuchie in today’s article about the new automatic flood barrier installed at Freuchie Mill. This new flood protection measure protects three Kingdom Housing Association properties from being deluged in another August 2008 type flood event.

Freuchie Flood Action Group pointed out the flood risk in this area, recommending a flood wall, a flood barrier and a pump be installed at this location. Kingdom Housing took our evidence and recommendation along to their flood consultants to come up with a design which implemented two of our three recommendations. Menzies were appointed as the contractor who fitted backflow valves, automatic airbricks, floodgates, constructed the flood wall and installed the automatic flood barrier manufactured by UK Flood Barriers – the first installation of its kind in Scotland.  In flood prevention and protection project terms this is a small and relatively inexpensive project that has massively improved the flood protection for three Freuchie Mill dwellings and added protection from sewer flooding to all Kingdom Housing Association properties.

Working with Kingdom Housing Association and their consultants we have identified further reasonable priced drainage improvements that would make a massive difference to the flood risk at Freuchie Mill. Our proposals would implement the drainage recommendations made by Fife Regional Council when Freuchie Mill was still being planned back in the 1990’s. Cllr MacDiarmid has been trying for some time to organise a meeting with Fife Council officers and other stakeholders to look at our proposals.

p.s. The press release prepared by UK Flood Barriers mentioned a nursing home hence the error in today’s newspaper article! There isn’t a nearby nursing home.

UPDATE: Article now online at http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/article/12680/freuchie-mill-the-first-community-in-scotland-to-introduce-a-passive-flood-defence-system.html

Freuchie Community Council announced this morning on the FCC Facebook page that work has begun on the new footbridge at Greentree Brae:

Installation works on the long-awaited replacement footbridge linking Dykeside with Green Tree Brae have begun, and the bridge should be completed by the end of March.

FFAG will be reporting on this work as it progresses, looking particularly at the floodgate which will offer protection to Greentree Brae residents who were badly flooded on the 13th August 2008.

Freuchie Flood Action Group has organised a short presentation and demonstration from UK Flood Barriers of their flood prevention and protection product offering. This will take place at 2pm on Sunday 29th March 2009 at Freuchie Cricket Club.

Anyone affected or at risk from flooding is welcome to attend, whether they be from Freuchie or other affected communities in Fife and beyond. Please just let us know you’re coming using our online Contact Us form.

Alan Ure of UK Flood Barriers will also be available to perform a free home survey to anyone that is interested. Again, Contact Us to arrange a suitable time for a survey.

In our opinion their airbrick protection product is the industry leader, as it is fully automatic, and the “Floodshield” barrier door is very simple to use. There are massive price reductions coming down the pipeline in a few weeks, compared with those indicated on the website at the moment, thereby making the products substantially cheaper than any of the competition. Fully protecting your home is now going to be very affordable at a price that won’t empty the wallet. 

Some additional information from UK Flood Barriers:

“Flood Prevention & Protection”

UK Flood Barriers Ltd have had a very busy summer due in no small part to recent appalling weather.   We work together with construction companies and housing associations, as well as assisting locally formed flood groups in villages throughout the country to decide on the most appropriate measures they can take to protect their homes and businesses. 

UK Flood Barriers specialise in offering solutions to the ever-increasing problem of water ingress into homes and businesses.  Climate change is here to stay and the signs are not looking favourable; the UK has suffered two of the wettest summers in a row, and flash flooding is sadly a common occurrence. 

UK Flood Barriers has a range of innovative “fit and forget” flood defence products, which, used in conjunction can prevent homes and businesses from flooding.  The benefit of our “fit & forget” range enables householders and businesses to be prepared well in advance of flood warnings, without having to panic-fit airbrick covers or experience the misery of sewage backflow.  Our door barriers complement the range and can be fitted in just two minutes.  They are strong and lightweight (weighing between 4.8 and 5.8kg each) and come ready to use, with no permanent fixtures or fittings required to the property.

UK Flood Barriers are constantly striving for improvements in innovation. We pride ourselves on providing user-friendly and cost effective solutions for our customers, to give them peace of mind that whichever flood solution they have chosen they will be covered in the event of future flooding.

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